In 2024, governors will be elected in 11 states and attorneys general will be elected in 10 states. In New Hampshire, the governor appoints the attorney general. North Dakota and Delaware will host governors races this year but will not host attorney general elections until 2026. Pennsylvania and Oregon will select new attorneys general but will not have a governor’s election this year.
Read on for the state of each race for governor and attorney general heading into Election Day.
2024 Governor Races
New Hampshire
Gov. Chris Sununu (R) is not seeking reelection, citing his personal objection to career-long public service. Former Manchester Mayor Joyce Craig (D) beat New Hampshire Executive Council Member Cinde Warmington (D) in the Democratic primary while former U.S. Senator Kelly Ayotte (R) won over former State Senate President Chuck Morse (R) for the Republican nomination. The race will be one of the closest governor’s races with recent polling within the margin of error.
North Carolina
With Gov. Roy Cooper’s (D) term coming to an end, this open seat has generated much interest among candidates. The North Carolina primary was held on March 5 and resulted in Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson (R) winning the Republican nomination over former prosecutor Bill Graham (R) and State Treasurer Dale Folwell (R). Attorney General Josh Stein (D) won the Democratic nomination over former North Carolina Supreme Court Justice Mike Morgan (D) and Tryon Town Council Member Cherelle Booker (D). North Carolina’s governor’s race was originally one of the tightest in the country but took a dramatic turn when controversial statements and posts made online by Republican candidate, Robinson, were released. Following Robinson’s concerning posts coming to light, Stein has maintained a large and consistent lead in polling.
North Dakota
Gov. Doug Burgum (R) announced earlier this year that he would not seek reelection. As a result, U.S. Representative Kelly Armstrong (R) and Lt. Gov. Tammy Miller (R) faced off in the North Dakota primary on June 11. Armstrong, who has the endorsement of former President Donald Trump, won the Republican nomination with over 70 % of the vote. He will face Merrill Piepkorn (D), who ran unopposed in the Democratic primary, in November. The UVA Center for Politics projects that the state will remain safely red.
Utah
The Utah Republican Primary took place on June 25. Gov. Spencer Cox (R) is running for reelection and won the Republican nomination over State Representative Phil Lyman (R) by 54.6 % of the vote. Cox (R) is expected to win reelection. He will face State Representative Brian King (D) who ran uncontested in the Democratic Primary. Public polling suggests that the state will remain safely red.
Delaware
Gov. John Carney (D) is term limited and cannot run for reelection. New Castle County Executive Matt Meyer beat both Lt. Gov. Bethany Hall-Long and current National Wildlife Federation CEO Collin O’Mara in the Democratic primary. Meyer will face State Representative Micheal Ramone (R) in the general election. Public polling indicates this will be a safe Democratic hold.
Indiana
Gov. Eric Holcomb (R) is term limited and cannot run for reelection. Indiana held its primary on May 7. U.S. Senator Mike Braun (R) won the Republican nomination with 39.5 % of the vote and former Indiana Superintendent of Public Instruction Jennifer McCormick (D) won the Democratic nomination. Current public polling suggests that Braun will win in November.
Missouri
Gov. Mike Parson (R) is term limited and cannot run for reelection. The Missouri primary took place on August 6. Missouri House Minority Leader Crystal Quade (D) won the Democratic nomination and Lt. Gov. Mike Kehoe (R) won the Republican nomination. Public polling shows a consistent and large lead for Kehoe.
Montana
Gov. Greg Gianforte (R) is running for reelection and will face Ryan Busse (D) and Kaiser Leib (I) in the general election. Current public polling and the UVA Center for Politics suggests that Gianforte will win reelection and keep Montana red; however, of note, the state has not reelected a Republican governor since 1996.
Washington
Gov. Jay Inslee (D) announced he will not be running for reelection last year. Washington held its primary on August 6 with 28 candidates competing for their respective party nomination. Attorney General Bob Ferguson (D) won the Democratic nomination and former U.S. Congressman Dave Reichert (R) won the Republican nomination. Current public polling shows a clear and consistent advantage for Ferguson.
West Virginia
Gov. Jim Justice (R) is not seeking reelection as he is the current Republican nominee for the U.S. Senate seat vacated by Senator Joe Machin (D). In the governor’s race, Huntington Mayor Steve Williams (D) will face Attorney General Patrick Morrisey (R) in the general election. According to the UVA Center for Politics, West Virginia will remain a safe red state in 2024.
Vermont
The Vermont primary was held on August 13. Gov. Phil Scott (R) is seeking reelection and won the Republican nomination. Educator Esther Charlestin (D) won the Democratic nomination. According to public polling, Scott should win reelection in November.
2024 Attorneys General Races
West Virginia
The West Virginia primary took place on May 21. State Auditor J.B. McCuskey (R) beat State Senator Mike Stuart (R) to win the Republican nomination. McCuskey (R) will face litigator Teresa Toriseva (D), who won the Democratic nomination over Richie Robb (D). According to public polling as well as the UVA Center for Politics, West Virginia is projected to remain a safe Republican state and McCuskey is expected to win in November.
Oregon
After serving for 11 years, Attorney General Ellen Rosenblum (D) is not seeking reelection. Former Oregon House Speaker Dan Rayfield (D) and former prosecutor Will Lathrop (R) will face off in the general election. Rayfield (D) won the Democratic nomination over Shaina Maxey Pomeranz (D) with 75.7% of the vote. The UVA Center for Politics predicts the state will remain safely blue.
Vermont
Attorney General Charity Clark (D) is running for reelection against H. Brooke Paige (R) and Progressive Elijah Bergman. Clark won in 2022 with 65% of the vote. According to the UVA Center for Politics, Clark is expected to win reelection.
North Carolina
Attorney General Josh Stein (D) is running for governor and is not seeking reelection. Two members of Congress, Jeff Jackson (D) and Dan Bishop (R), will face off in the general election. Bishop (R) ran unopposed and won the Republican primary on March 5. Durham County District Attorney Satana Deberry (D) won the Democratic nomination with 58% of the vote over Tim Dunne (D). Although North Carolina has not had a Republican attorney general in over a century, this year’s race is expected to be competitive. According to recent public polling, Jackson has opened a lead over Bishop.
Utah
Attorney General Sean Reyes (R) is not seeking reelection. Former State GOP Chairman Derek Brown (R) won the Republican nomination with 44% of the vote and will face attorney Rudy Bautista (D) in the general election. The UVA Center for Politics predicts that Utah will remain a safe red state and that Brown will win.
Pennsylvania
Attorney General Michelle Henry (D), appointed by incoming governor and former Attorney General Josh Shapiro, is not seeking reelection. Auditor General Eugene DePasquale (D) will face York County District Attorney David Sunday Jr. (R) in the general election. The UVA Center for Politics considers this race a toss-up. With tight races at the top of the ticket, this attorney general race will be one to watch.
Indiana
Attorney General Todd Rokita (R) is running for reelection and will face Indiana Democratic Party Deputy Chair Destiny Wells (D). Wells previously ran for Secretary of State. Public polling and the UVA Center for Politics predicts that Rokita will win reelection.
Missouri
Missouri’s primary election took place on August 6. Elad Gross (D) won the Democratic nomination. Attorney General Andrew Bailey (R) was able to stave off a primary challenge from former Assistant U.S. Attorney Will Scharf (R) to win the Republican nomination. The UVA Center for Politics considers Missouri a safe red state and predicts a Republican victory in November.
Montana
The Montana primary was held on June 4. Attorney General Austin Knudsen (R) is running for reelection and won the Republican nomination. He will face Attorney Ben Alke (D) in the general election. The UVA Center for Politics considers Montana to be a safe red state and predicts a Knudsen victory in November.
Washington
Attorney General Bob Ferguson (D) is running for governor. Washington’s primary election was held on August 6. U.S. District Court Attorney Nick Brown (D), State Senator Manka Dhingra (D) and Pasco Mayor Pete Serrano (R) faced off. Serrano won the Republican nomination and Brown won the Democratic nomination. The UVA Center of Politics considers Washington a safe blue state and predicts a Brown victory in November.
